Grain Deal: Zelenskyy Ordered Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Contact Partners to Put Pressure on Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to intensify contacts with partners to increase pressure on Russia in order to continue the normal export of Ukrainian grain.

"I have given orders to the military to strengthen the protection of people and port infrastructure, and to the MFA to activate contacts with international partners to increase pressure on the state-terrorist and ensure the continuation of normal Ukrainian grain exports," Zelenskyy stated on his Telegram channel following the security meeting regarding Russia's nighttime attacks on Odesa, Zhytomyr, and other regions.

On July 17, Russia announced the suspension of the "grain deal."

Previously, Ukraine reached out to Türkiye and the UN with a proposal to continue the operation of the "grain corridor" within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia, which withdrew from the agreements on Monday.

The Kremlin threatened "risks" to those parties considering continuing the "grain deal" without Russia's participation.

According to Ukraine's ambassador to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, the possibility of continuing the grain corridor after Russia's exit from the agreement exists, but no one can guarantee that Russia will not attack ships.